UPI Next is unequaled as a media development organization because it is affiliated with a global news agency and distribution channel, United Press International, founded in 1907. We create a career path for journalists through skill-based mentoring that leads to publication on UPI.com, which averages 6 million site visitors per month. UPI Next's network has mentored hundreds of stories from journalists around the world to publication with UPI.com.

Mentoring

Our online platform is a one-stop destination with training tools and mentoring for students as well as professional journalists. Our mentors are experienced international journalists from all types of news medium, who draw on their expertise in topical reporting to offer practical advice.

Measuring

We rigorously evaluate and assess the content produced, based on well-researched and field-tested standards and measures, so reporters always know where they stand and where they are headed -- and so donors can easily track the impact of the projects they fund.

Connecting

We promote and boost distribution of good journalism.

For training organizations

Are you interested in measuring how much your workshop participants learn? Our assessment tool can provide data that will help you prove your training works. Moreover, once you’re finished with your workshop sessions, you will be able to use our innovative website, in collaboration with our team of mentors, to extend the learning process remotely.

For universities

We specialize in practical skills and we can tailor our sessions to fit your needs. Participants get feedback from our mentors, who have worked at some of the world’s top news outlets. With our innovative assessment tool you can compare your students’ work with that produced by students in other journalism schools and measure how much your students have improved.

For news organizations

Do you want your content to be part of an international news agency? Organizations that partner with us see their stories on UPI.com. We can also evaluate your content to determine quality, reach and impact with our tailored assessment tools and audience analytics.

UPI NextBY THE NUMBERS

Average size of UPI.com audience: 6 million per month

Number of countries from which stories were submitted to UPI mentors in 2011: 30

Number of stories by students and new journalists that were mentored to publication on UPI.com publication: 200+

Number of stories mentored on UPI’s dedicated platform in four years: 4,200

Number of years of business experience UPI brings to its media development division: 180

United Press International has provided essential news and information to media outlets, governments and researchers worldwide since 1907. In 2008, UPI launched its global training division (then named UPIU) as a mentoring and publication platform for journalists in the United States and around the world. The division initially worked with university journalism students and expanded to mentor freelancers with the goals of building skills, incorporating new voices in its reporting and raising professional standards worldwide. The revamped division, UPI Next, is now using sophisticated content analysis, program assessment and audience metrics to solidly measure its program’s impact.

In UPIU’s four years of journalism training work, about 5,800 students and new journalists registered on the dedicated UPIU website. More than 4,200 of their stories were published on UPIU, and all the journalists who wrote these stories were mentored. Almost 200 of those stories were published on UPI.com, reaching an audience of millions.

UPI has worked closely with 42 universities around the world, including Peshawar University in Pakistan, Peking University, and universities in the United States such as Ohio University, the University of Tampa and Michigan State University. Projects ranged from mentoring a 225-student Journalism 101 class at Rhodes University in South Africa to an advanced conflict reporting fellowship with students from five countries across Asia. In mentoring sessions carried out in the United States, UPI mentors have addressed ethics, multimedia, podcasting and data journalism. They have also held tutorials on basic reporting and writing skills for journalists in North America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

China: Beijing Foreign Studies University Chinese University of Hong Kong

Denmark: Danish School of Media and Journalism

India: Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media Jamia Millia Islamia Panjab University

Indonesia: University of Indonesia

Iraq: American University in Iraq – Suleimani

Kenya: United States International University Daystar University

Kyrgyzstan: American University of Central Asia

Lebanon:

Lebanese American University

Malaysia: Tunku Abdul Rahman University Monash University

Namibia: Namibia Polytechnic University of Namibia

Pakistan: Peshawar University Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies

Philippines: University of Philippines

Singapore: Nanyang Technological University

South Africa: Rhodes University Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Taiwan: National Taiwan University

United States: Arizona State University Columbia College Chicago Grand Valley State University Indiana University Kansas State University Michigan State University Rutgers University San Diego State University Santa Clara University St. Thomas University (Florida) Southeastern Louisiana University University of Memphis University of Mississippi University of Tampa University of West Virginia Ohio University